Four Men Fatally Shot During St. James Police Operation

Four men were fatally shot by members of the security forces about 5:40 a.m. Wednesday during an alleged confrontation at a marl quarry near the Retirement dump on the outskirts of Montego Bay, St. James.

Relatives identified three of the dead as Jamar Ashman, Brian Faircloth and Brian “TJ” Faircloth. A fourth man had not been identified up to news time. Family members rejected the police account and accused the lawmen of using excessive force.

Tika Evans, the mother of Ashman’s two-year-old son, said the child did not yet know his father was dead. She said Ashman and the younger Faircloth worked as night watchmen at the quarry.

Troy Faircloth, widow of Brian Faircloth, said her husband was a 57-year-old tractor operator at the quarry and had been staying there with his son and two other men when the incident occurred. She said their 10-year-old child had Grade Five PEP examinations and was struggling with the news.

Gwendolyn Williams, who said she raised Brian “TJ” Faircloth from birth, said the men had left behind children and insisted they had done nothing to warrant being killed.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force said the operation was intelligence-led and linked to investigations into recent violence in the area, including the June 5 killing of a man at the Retirement dump. Police said the violence was connected to disputes among people involved in collecting and selling scrap metal and other recyclables.

The JCF said the deployment was intended to prevent further attacks and reprisals. The four men were taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The Independent Commission of Investigations has opened a probe, as is standard in fatal shootings involving police. INDECOM said 14 people have been killed in alleged confrontations with security forces since the start of June, including 11 between Tuesday and Wednesday.